Thudarum: Tharun Moorthy shares alternate title for Mohanlal’s superhit and fans would have loved it
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In the past few days, probably the most uttered word in Kerala would be the title of Mohanlal’s latest film – Thudarum, which is already being predicted by industry insiders to enter Rs 100 Cr club in the next two weeks.
The actor's role has already been hailed by Mohanlal fans as well as filmgoers as one of Mohanlal’s greatest performances, with many saying that it does justice to his Complete Actor moniker and thanking its director Tharun Moorthy for bringing their ‘old Mohanlal’ back on screen. Coincidentally, the filmmaker revealed that the alternate title that the team had considered for the film was very much in line with this sentiment.
Mohanlal's Thudarum could've been titled Vintage: Tharun Moorthy
In a recent interview with Red FM Malayalam, Tharun, who had previously helmed Operation Java and Saudi Vellakka , said that this was the first time that he had begun shooting a film before deciding its title. The movie had begun shoot with a tentative title of L360.
“(Writer) KR Sunil had a rough title. During the shoot, I got this idea for naming it Thudarum and I had discussed it with producer M Renjith ettan too. It was a simple title like Oppam,” he said.
The filmmaker then decided to discuss how to present the title and as part of it, briefed the poster designers about making it large and bold – like titles in yesteryear film posters, with similar fonts. After the designers had come up with their font for the title, they presented it to Mohanlal, who had his own suggestions.
But when the announcement was delayed, the team started second guessing themselves, if Thudarum was the right title. “By then there was also a campaign among fans to let out the title,” Tharun said. “That was also the time when the Hema Committee report was released, and it sent shockwaves in the Malayalam film industry. So, it really wasn’t the apt time to announce the title – Thudarum (which translated to ‘will continue’). When so many controversies were happening, it just didn’t seem the right time to announce a movie with a title like this. So, we decided to wait.”
Mohanlal like Thudarum better for its simplicity: Tharun Moorthy
Then came the suggestion – Vintage, explains Tharun. “I was apprehensive if I wanted to choose that because this wasn’t a movie done to bring back ‘vintage Mohanlal’. So, if we had given that name and vintage Mohanlal didn’t appear, it would backfire,” he said, adding that he was in two minds whether to go with Vintage or Thudarum.
Also read: Loved the chemistry of Mohanlal and Shobana in Thudarum? Revisit their yesteryear films
It was Mohanlal, who had given him clarity, said the director. “Lalettan told me, ‘Why choose any other title than Thudarum? I was wondering why there wasn’t a film with that title before because when you read a book or watch the news, you keep seeing or hearing the word. It was simple, had few letters and a well-rounded font’. When I got that support from him, we decided to go ahead with this.”
Tharun also explained that the title was apt for the movie, “which is about the various stages in a man’s life and how life goes on despite all the problems he has to face”. Thudarum, which has Mohanlal essaying the role of a taxi driver, also has Prakash Varma, Shobana, Binu Pappu and Thomas Mathew in pivotal roles.
